Wednesday, February 16, 2011

amazon.com, Rick, and Susan Combs... who is right?

I see points on both sides, but it looks an awfully lot like Susan Combs is trying to almost unilaterally tax the internet... I think Rick makes the winning political argument... jobs and lower taxes (link). Excerpt follows...

Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, told The Examiner in an exclusive interview that Amazon's decision to leave the state was a result of a wrong decision by the state comptroller, and that he will work with legislators to make sure Amazon can stay.

"That is a problem and I would suggest to you that we need to look at that decision that our comptroller made," he said. "The comptroller made that decision independently. I would tell you from my perspective that's not the decision I would have made."

Amazon announced that it would close its Texas distribution center, citing "an unfavorable regulatory climate" due to the comptroller's attempts to collect sales taxes. Perry noted that the Amazon distribution center was a warehouse without a storefront. "You couldn't go in and buy anything out of that store, and that, historically, has been the way we defined whether you pay taxes or not -- if you had a storefront. This obviously didn't have a store front. It was specifically there to manage products that need to be shipped out."

But State Comptroller Susan Combs believes that Amazon is responsible for sales taxes not collected on online sales in the state. Last year, her office demanded $269 million in uncollected sales taxes from the company, and the case is pending before the Sate Office of Administrative Hearings.

"We don't want to be onerous on tax policy where businesses and I would say I'm having a hard time getting my hands around this one," Perry continued. "The good news is that the legislature is in town for our bianual session. Hopefully someone will be able to craft some legislation -- and actually do it -- before Amazon walks out the door. Texas should be a bastion for businesses not one where they're sitting there going 'we'd rather go over to go to Oklahoma where we could get a better deal.'"

"Texas doesn't need to make itself less competitive with its tax decisions."

Susan Combs might run against Greg Abbott for Lt. Governor. I think this hurts her chances at that...

2 comments:

Combs' pursued of this issue is definitely a poor career move..Oh and for all you Texans out there, like Ms. Combs, concerned that the Texas Gov isn't getting it's fair share of your tax dollars from Internet purchases, go here to download the 'Texas Occasional Use Tax Return'. Fill it out and send in your $$$ ASAP!.

Martywd, Combs needs to see what happened to the last 2 TX Comptrollers whose ego got bruised once they sought higher office and failed badly (Sharp and Strayhorn).

I believe she's making a big mistake in not staying put for another term as Comptroller in 2014, and if she does run for Lieutenant Governor in what is likely going to be a crowded GOP primary, Abbott will not only destroy her, he will kill her in a devastating landslide.

Hey now, campaign characters. Be nice. I know a lot of you on both sides, so I don't want any overly foul language, personal attacks on anyone other than the candidates themselves, or other party fouls. I will moderate the heck out of you if you start breaking the bounds of civility.

Twitter.com/rickvskay

Twitter.com/rickvskay

About Rick vs. Kay's Author

Both Texas born and bred AND a proud (some might say too proud) Republican, I have a keen interest in the Texas Governor's race in 2010. I wish to remain anonymous because I have good friends [read: GOOD SOURCES] on both sides of this race. Oh and I am for Rick. Kay simply pissed me off too many times.